NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Insider Steve gives us his weekly M’s pitching breakdown in the arms under the spotlight segment. The Mariners took on Detroit Tigers and swept their 3-game series in D-town. Then headed over the lake to Toronto and won game 1 of their series with the Blue Jays before losing two. Steve Delabar, Lucas Luetge, Tom Wilhelmsen, and Brandon League pitched well in Detroit.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the second week of the M’s season had to be the first MLB milestone by new M’s pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma. With the game out of hand Mariners manager Eric Wedge decided to finally give Iwukuma a chance to pitch in game 15 against the Chicago White Sox. He got a pop up! Nice!

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the second week of the M’s season had to be the Mike Cameron ceremonial first pitch on opening night for the M’s. A little strut to his step at first, before breaking into a trot, Cameron was met with a stadium full of cheers for one of the Mariners all time favorites.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the first week of the M’s season had to be Chone Figgins bunt vs. the Oakland Athletics. Like Clinton has been saying for the last four months; speed wins baseball games. And any time a guy like Figgins can turn a bunt into an RBI like this, you have something special brewing.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us to him the best “MY oh MY” play of the first week of the M’s season had to be Ichiro Suzuki’s first hit in Japan vs the Oakland Athletics. Exactly the type of hit that Ichiro has made a career of, and made many a defense look foolish at the same time. Clinton provides a You Tube Video of the event for all Mariners fans to see.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us let’s not forget the real reason why we are all turning our attention to Japan. Opening day! The happiest day of the year! And for us Mariners fans, especially of late, a chance to relish the thought of not trailing the Angels and Rangers, even if it is short lived. A homecoming in order for Ichiro Suzuki, Hishashi Iwakuma, and Munenori Kawasaki.

NWSB blogger Insider Steve brings us his 5 reasons to love the 2012 Seattle Mariners starting rotation recently announced by head coach Eric Wedge. With Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Hector Noesi, Blake Beavan and Kevin Millwood all making the starting cut, where did new guy Hisashi Iwakuma end up?

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us Aaron Heilman, Matt Fox, Sean Henn, Josh Kinney, Jeff Marquez, Oliver Perez, and Trayvon Robinson were roster cuts casualties today for the M’s 2012 roster. For the guys sent down on Saturday, they will have to wait for their shot to be on a big league club again. Maybe mid season call ups, maybe next season.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us Mauricio Robles, one of the Mariners top left-handed pitching prospects, Nick Franklin, Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker were among six players sent down to the Minor Leagues on Saturday as the club made its first cuts from the big league camp.

NWSB insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell brings us his prediction for the 5th starter in the Seattle Mariners rotation. With Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Hisashi Iwakuma and Kevin Millwood seemingly punching their tickets to be the top 5, there is one spot left. Blake Beavan and Hector Noesi are fighting for that spot.

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Clinton Bell tells us M’s center fielder Franklin Gutierrez will not require surgery for his injury but it looks as though he will be out of commission for at least a month. This is the second straight year he will start the campaign on the shelf. There are numerous backup options for 2012 in the middle. Trayvon Robinson, Casper Wells, Canadian Michael Saunders, and Chone Figgins?

NWSB Insider and Seattle Mariners blogger Danny Ferguson tells us during 2012 MLB spring training that the M’s are likely trying to play a different type of ball where players have more versatility and therefore more value within the organization. He asks do we really know where Dustin Ackley, Mike Carp, Justin Smoak, Kyle Seager, Chone Figgins, Carlos Guillen, Alex Liddi and Francesco Martinez should be playing come opening day?